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Danish idioms, a thread.
When I moved to Denmark, I didn't expect much difficulties in the language. Norwegian and Danish are mutually intelligible, although it might require some training if you aren't used to hearing the other language spoken. I got surprised by idioms.
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When I moved to Denmark, I didn't expect much difficulties in the language. Norwegian and Danish are mutually intelligible, although it might require some training if you aren't used to hearing the other language spoken. I got surprised by idioms.
1/?
In the following tweets, I'll give a direct translation of some idioms, their original Danish wording, and their meaning. Some times the meaning varies, and I might have misunderstood some idioms, so if you're a native Danish speaker, feel free to give a comment.
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Just pet the horse (klap lige hesten): Used in order to urge someone to take it easy or calm down.
Now that goat has been shaved (så er den ged barberet): Mission accomplished, problem solved or having decided upon something.
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Now that goat has been shaved (så er den ged barberet): Mission accomplished, problem solved or having decided upon something.
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Going out and punching at Severinus (ud og slå til Søren): Having excessive fun, i.e. getting drunk or spending too much money.
Painting the devil on the wall (male fanden på væggen): Expecting the worst case scenario.
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Painting the devil on the wall (male fanden på væggen): Expecting the worst case scenario.
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There's no cow on the ice (der er ingen ko på isen): There's no problem.
Having shot the parrot (at have skudt papegøjen): Having gotten very lucky, i.e. gotten a great partner.
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Having shot the parrot (at have skudt papegøjen): Having gotten very lucky, i.e. gotten a great partner.
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Not sticking up for bun-milk (at ikke stikke op for bollemælk): Not doing a job because the suggested payment is too low.
Doing someone a bear favour (at gøre nogen en bjørnetjeneste): By doing someone a favour, you're actually making their situation worse.
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Doing someone a bear favour (at gøre nogen en bjørnetjeneste): By doing someone a favour, you're actually making their situation worse.
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Putting flies in someones headhead (at sætte nogen fluer i hovedet): Giving someone false hope or believing the impossible.
Pulling cod to the shore (at hale torsk i land): Snoring.
Not able to put your arms down (at ikke kunne få armerne ned): Being very happy or excited
7/?
Pulling cod to the shore (at hale torsk i land): Snoring.
Not able to put your arms down (at ikke kunne få armerne ned): Being very happy or excited
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Knowing one's lice in the hallway (at kende sine lus på gangen): Knowing who you're dealing with.
Driving with the blob (at køre med klatten): Things are going well, or you have success.
Now the ten-pence fell (så faldt tiøren): Finally understanding something.
8/?
Driving with the blob (at køre med klatten): Things are going well, or you have success.
Now the ten-pence fell (så faldt tiøren): Finally understanding something.
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Now the warm water has been shut off (så er det lukket for det varme vand): Uttered by someone who is fed up and don't want to give any more help, or refusing to let the situation go on.
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They gave a song from the warm countries (de gav en sang fra de varme lande): Giving empty promises or evasive answers.
Shooting a white stick after something (skyde en hvid pind efter noget): Giving something up.
10/(to be continued whenever I remember another one)
Shooting a white stick after something (skyde en hvid pind efter noget): Giving something up.
10/(to be continued whenever I remember another one)
To speak for your mother's sick sister (at tale for sin syge moster): I'm not sure I understand this one correctly, but it seems to be used when someone is trying hard to argue for their own interests (maybe with irrelevant digressions), without achieving it.
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